An Interview by My Daughter on the Topic of Summer Beauty Do's and Don'ts

My daughter Interviewed me on the topic of Summer Beauty Do's and Don'ts. It's always great to be able to get a kid's perspective on the truly important things in life.

She wanted to know answers to the following questions:

1) Have you ever used lemon juice or other products to lighten your hair?

When I was a teenager, it was a big deal to use Sun In in your hair. You could always tell the people who had red undertones and used Sun In -- their hair turned a brilliant shade of orange.

2) What's your favorite summer hairstyle?

This summer, I've become a big fan of the braids. I wear braids most often when I work out and when I am cleaning and, really, quite often. I love long hair, and I really enjoy it -- but I can't wear ponytails as they give me headaches, and big clips are often uncomfortable. So, for the most part, it's lots of smaller clips -- which can be overwhelming -- or the braids, regular or French. I LOVE the Sock Buns that many women can pull off, but I'm not talented enough with my hands to get all of my many layers of hair inserted. I end up getting frustrated -- apparently, I have the patience level of a two-year-old.

3) Do you use any products to help you tan? Why is it bad to lay out in the sun?

Again, going back to when I was a teen, it was the "thing" to lay out with baby oil on your skin and get a tan that way. Years of solid sun exposure are probably the most impressive factor to being diagnosed with melanoma. I have, in the past, tried different tanning lotions, with varying levels of non-success and even, twice, had spray tans that were very, um, memorable. It's always impressive to see the areas that the spray didn't take -- often when you are hanging out in a bathing suit in a resort with friends.

4) Will you put on make-up every day or just on the days that you go out?

I love to wear make-up. Love it. I would wear it every day, but in the heat of the summer it feels like I'm plastering spackle on a wet, slimy surface. Then my face feels like a mask. So, on those super very hot days, I usually default to a bit of under eye concealer -- for the dark circles I have look like death on a plate -- and some mascara. Always with the mascara but, interestingly enough, I don't use waterproof. Even if I use the greatest makeup remover I can find, I can't get the dumb stuff off my lashes and I end up breaking them.

5) How often do you shave during the summer months?

Every night. If I shave in the morning and we go to the beach -- which is quite often in the summer -- the sand stings. So I shave at night. And then I use some super miracle gel that promises to reduce hair growth- - although I think maybe that's a myth and I've bought into a fallacy. One of the most important things to do is to use quality products. I really like the Satin Care Passionista Fruit Shave Gel, which has a rich formula infused with the sparkling scent of juicy, fresh fruit and leaves skin soft and satiny smooth every time I shave.†A great razor is also key and for a young girl like you, the Venus Embrace is a great razor to start with.

By the way, Venus has some great tips for moms of first-time shavers over here.

Do you have a beauty tip that you've shared with your daughter to prepare her for summer? Do you have a funny summer beauty mishap that you can share? Share them here with us and one lucky commenter will win a $50 Visa gift card!

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Sunblock.
Also, if you look better in a full piece, don't be afraid to wear one. I always wore bikinis because I thought I, being a teen, was "supposed to". I would have been a lot happier in a cute full piece.

I am working on doing better at using sunblock on the kids. This summer has been more about helping my daughters with shaving though. Using the right products, making sure to moisturize, etc. It is going way to fast!

My story is quite funny now, but in high school, not so much. I was going out somewhere and was running late, so I took a super! quick! shower and shave. Except that I missed a 2" strip from my knee to ankle. Andddddd I didnt notice until the person I was looking to impress made a comment about it. As in "why is your leg spiky?"

Just thinking about all of the bikini tops I've lost over the years. Anyhow, my best summer beauty routine is keeping my perfume in the fridge. Right next to my face cream. Because evaporation is a bitch.

I wasn't allowed to shave my legs until I was 16. RIGHT. So, of course, I sneaked a razor and tried to figure it out. Except I didn't know about shaving cream. One 2" long piece of skin and a gallon of blood later, I stopped and looked into my Teen Magazine for shaving tips ... for next time!

My tip: After you apply sunscreen to your face, don't fall asleep on your stomach with your face on the sand. You will inevitably be woken by your boyfriend who will want to introduce you to someone and when you stand up, your face will be COVERED with sand. Not a good look.

My 11 year old is ready to start shaving her arm pits but she has yet to do it because every time she takes a shower she doesn't want to take the time. So my advice to her was to not hurry through it. Never shave in a hurry.

NEVER EVER shave your legs dry. Ever. Sadly, I did not have a chance to tell my daughter this before she (and her friend) painfully discovered this while camping. But as they say, sometimes you have to learn the hard way!!

No kids and not specific to summer but I've always thought if I had a daughter I'd have her using eye cream from a very young age - delicate skin around the eyes needs moisture regardless of skin type. Also, always wear sunglasses when outside. I'm 40 w/only the faintest hint of crows feet.

i used sun-in...the summer between 8th and 9th grade...i also got a perm (permanent wave) that summer...by the time we did school pictures in mid-september, the blonde was growing out, and a permanent wave was not near as cool as i may have thought it would be! ugh!

I remember Sun In! It never did much for me, but I remember trying lemon juice, too. My big bad summer thing was that I used those "streak" hair bleach kits once. I left it in too long and ended up with thick yellow streaks. Tips I give my Daughter are to use moisturizer after shaving, to replace her razor (disposable) often and to use sunblock.

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About Me

Carmen Staicer is a whirlwind of energy and execution, who never sleeps and drinks way too much coffee. She works from home as Social Media Programs Manager for SheKnows, and is the mom to six kids, most of whom play instruments, sing or dance and all of whom are much smarter than she will ever be. In other words, her house is never ever quiet or still. A concentration of asthma, food allergies, spectrum disorders and learning disabilities means that she spends an awful lot of time second guessing herself and Dr. Googling, as well as learning to cook everything the family might like to eat. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, boxing (she has her Black Belt in Muay Thai), sleeping, exploring coffee shops, photography, ballet class and cooking. She excels in being a smart mouth and has her major in sarcasm, with a dual minor in BS studies and avoiding laundry.